Sunday, February 26, 2017

I am not a member of
any organized political party. I am a Democrat. Will Rogers

This
post is a long and personal political
ramble intended for the few relatives who read my blog. Anyone else may
be bored to tears. You have been warned.

See where Tom Perez was elected head of
the DNC. He promptly appointed Keith Ellison Deputy Chair. Yawn.

I’m of that disappearing demographic, a
Blue Dog Democrat. Raised in Republican household, I was always around
politics. My father was, for a time, the county chairman as was an uncle (in a
different county).

The path to becoming a Democrat started
with having an autistic child. Moving to Washington State put us in conflict
with the school system. My wife became heavily involved in handicapped issues
and the original draft of the Washington Education For All Act was written on
our dining room table. She then worked for three years to get it passed. Should
add she never got credit, not that she sought it.

I was a delegate to the county
conventions as a Republican but became angry by the prevailing attitude of, “I
got mine, fuck you, and I will get yours if I can”.

Found I had much more in common with the
Democrats. Became for a time a precinct committeeman.

The Republicans had lukewarm chicken ala
king at the Holiday Inn. The Democrats partied at a longshoreman’s bar. After my marriage ended, found the Democrat
functions were a great resource for my romantic
life.

Fast forward to moving to Colorado in
1997, starting to attend Democrat Party functions, and becoming active. OK,
then came Obama. I didn’t vote for him. Prior to that election, the last
Republican I voted for was Gerald Ford. I disliked Obama as being part of the Chicago machine. Listening to him,
thought he was all hat and no cattle. Didn’t take a stand as a Senator. Voted,
“Present”. What kind of gutless position is that?

Now he is elected. With his
first cabinet nominee, Eric Holder for AG, I knew we were fucked. I knew of
Holder’s work for the Clintons as Assistant AG and the pardons for dollars at
the end of Slick Willie’s second term.

My main reason for voting for Romney, who
I disliked, was the way he took control and salvaged the Salt Lake City Winter
Olympics. He was a proven problem solver and not a ‘community organizer’,
whatever the hell that is.

Two years into Obama’s first term, the
(P)regressives were firmly in control locally. Sure, all were welcome in the
‘big tent’ if they sat in the back, kept their mouths shut, and their wallets
open. The lead up to the midterms was the last time I attended any Democrat
function.

In the past my favorite explanation of
the difference between a Republican and a Democrat was a pie. The Republicans
are terrible concerned as to how the pie is divided. The Democrats are more
concerned there is a pie to begin with. Now I would add the (P)regressives want
all the pie and then they will distribute the pie as they see fit.

Last election I was for, “Anybody but
Shillary”. Like many people I didn’t take Trump seriously. Like many people, I
was dead wrong. I did vote for him.

I’m beginning to become a Trump fanboy.
Imagine, a man who keeps his campaign promises, who isn’t compromising to make
nice with the swamp, and has done more to change the collective mood in four
weeks than anyone else in my memory. After eight years of smugness, the feeling
of energy, opportunity and freedom is exhilarating.

The mean side of me can’t
help enjoying the angst of the (P)regressives.

In reflection, I’ve concluded President
Trump would make a fine 1980’s era Democrat. Wasn’t he, then?

I’m still not willing to go over to the
dark side. Jeb!, McCain, Lindsey Graham, et al make me want to barf.

At age 72, I will probably wander the
political wilderness till I die.

What I can do is use this modern digital
samizdat to keep bitching and agitating, and that is what I will do.

Friday, February 17, 2017

The (P)regressives are now employing the tactics they deplored when the Tea Party Patriots used them. Plus, they are bragging about it.http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/2/12/1631725/-Trump-resistance-is-like-the-tea-party-but-with-truth-on-its-sideThere are some differences. Paid protesters? http://coloradopeakpolitics.com/2017/02/14/paid-protesters-three-ads-for-the-lefts-paid-activists/A picture is worth what?

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

President elect Trump made a mistake with
Flynn by picking an “insider”. Many insiders don’t think the rules apply to
them. Flynn compounds this by lying to VP Pence.

From the last days of the election on we
have been hit almost hourly by “news” trying to tie President Trump to our
historical enemy, Russia. Seems the Trump haters think they have a winning
formula. Maybe so.

Let’s call it what it is, sophisticated
blackmail. Trump is a threat to many rice bowls in the de facto Fifth Branch,
the “Intelligence” community. How dare he question their positions and privileges?
Their first salvo was the ludicrous Moscow
“hooker” story.

Many of these same Trump haters were the
ones saying he would never be elected. Now they are trying to stage a coup.

In President Trump’s case, there are no
missing college transcripts, no questionable birth certificate, down low sex stories,
questionable social security number and, very clearly, his wife isn’t a tranny.
So, how do you blackmail him?

With all due respect to those patriots
serving, the community as a whole hasn’t protected us from jack shit, hasn’t
produced accurate intelligence, leaks all over the place, and is populated by
undisciplined hacks and, channeling the late Col. Hackworth, perfumed princes.
Further, for eight years the population of appointees of a weak, globalist president,
who are not patriots, who are “what is good for me is great for the country”,
and general fuck ups with the proper pedigree have terrible diluted the
intelligence community IMO.

So what to do? Once again I say castrate them
by pulling their security clearances. Leaks may not be traced to one individual
but should be traced to a section. Suspend the clearances pending an
investigation. Harsh? Yes. Witch hunt? Yes. Will it cripple our intelligences
efforts? Well shit, what are we getting from them now?

Sunday, February 12, 2017

The recent trip to visit the grandkids
reminded me again of a prior employment that had two or more trips a month on
airlines, and the relief felt when we parted.

Booked on American Airlines to
Greenville, SC via Charlotte on a red eye flight. Transferred in Charlotte for
an 18 minute flight to Greenville. Arrived at Concourse B, went out on
Concourse E. Nice hike for a 72 year old fat man with bad knees (not the
airline’s fault). Got on a dilapidated Canadair that had parts of the interior
trim duct taped (at least they used colored tape approximately the color of the
interior). Waited 35 minutes as they fussed around getting the door closed.

Finally got to DIA. Deplaned at the far
end of Concourse A. Moving sidewalks not working. Arrived at baggage claim. The
system jammed. Waited another thirty minutes for my bag (that cost me $25 to
check).

I realize my trip was filled with minor inconveniences
and many people have true horror stories.

My point is the whole experience of
getting to the airport, getting through security, getting on the damn plane
then getting off, and the terminal experience in general is a P.I.T.A.

One shout out. DIA Park is a new company.
Super rates if you go online and prepay. Clean vans, 10 minutes from the
terminal. Friendly, helpful employees that seem to enjoy their jobs. Just a tad
off the beaten track but easy to find.

Saturday, February 11, 2017

If ever a pet has a fitting name, it is Loki. In my son's house, he is a god.Story is he was my ex-wife's acquisition when she lived with them in Dugway, UT. She moved on but the cat stayed.

Despite my declaring I don't sleep with males, every time I woke up he would be on the bed.He decided the keyboard of my laptop was the most desirable place to sleep when I was foolish enough to leave it on and open. Found myself looking at pages I didn't know existed.Later today will return to Colorado. Wonder how long it will take to get all the cat hair out of my luggage? Loki's two reluctant subjects, Sasha and George, have made contributions. They didn't have decent sleeping quarters until my open duffle became available.With four grandkids, three cats, and four dogs the tasks of hugs, tickles, petting, and flinging blasted felines off every surface is daunting. Then there is the matching witticisms with the daughter in law. A mismatch. Something like a recruit up against a brigade.I need a vacation from my vacation.

Friday, February 10, 2017

Enroute back to the home base after a good grandkid fix. Hadn't seen them since they were at Ft. Carson when my son was being discharged. Being children, they have grown, shockingly so.Their relocation to upstate South Carolina was (1) a better climate for my son's injuries and (2) a promised EMT job with someone he served with.They found a nice 4 bedroom home with a swimming pool well within their means located in a nice neighborhood.

The local schools are among the best public schools in the state.They have the usual family issues, school grades, etc. Does my heart good to see how well they are coping with life.When my son was 16 he and I had a disagreement. He picked up a dining room chair and swung it. It didn't end well for him. The chair did break on my hard head. Fast forward to my visit. I'm sitting my over weight body on a dining room chair.

I accused him of waiting all these years to get even.The parent in me hates to see my child dealing with the medical issues that led to his medical discharge. The father in me swells with pride watching this gutsy and courageous man keeping on keeping on. No, don't say the apple didn't fall far from the tree. I doubt I could do it.Life isn't fair. The Army lost one of the best of the best, someone who stills wants to serve, while REMFs and Blue Falcon candidates stay in. Shit!Certainly I can't let this much time elapse until I see them again.

Monday, February 6, 2017

Today my son and I walked around the battlefield. I found it interesting to see it through the eyes of a professional soldier. Here are pictures from all four sides of the monument.

Rather than me trying to tell the story please go here.https://www.nps.gov/cowp/learn/historyculture/the-battle-of-cowpens.htmI haven't posted any pictures of the battlefield as today bears little resemblance to the conditions of the time of battle. An effort is being made to restore the vegetation (i.e. canebrakes) and other features (bogs, wetlands). The terrain makes for a gentle stroll - nothing too steep. Might be a tad different for a soldier of that era with musket, equipment, and heavy wool uniform.

At my youngest son's home getting a grandkid fix. Had hard words with the daughter in law."What have you done with my grandkids? My grandkids are little and these are big kids".She promptly put me in my place, her being a Frau Feldwebel in spirit.My son misses the Army and wasn't happy about being medically retired. He copes with his disabilities and keeps on keeping on. Lives the unofficial Army motto,"Fuck it. Don't mean shit. Drive on".

I'm immensely proud, and humbled, by what these two have accomplished.Ah, the grandkids!

There are two more. One is an adult lives and lives in another state. The other is 18 and has a girl friend, enough said.They have several dogs and cats. Loki is a volunteer computer tech.

He better is possibly better with tech stuff than this Latter Day Luddite. I'm enjoying the mild weather and being Mr. Maytag (always agitating). Fun Super Bowl being with a group of Patriot haters. Thoroughly enjoyed the fourth quarter and overtime. From my point of view I didn't have a dog in the fight so I could sit back and poke fun at those who did.More to come.

Thursday, February 2, 2017

We were stopped by the side of a Colorado
14 in a VW Transporter, in 1968, pulled over by a suspicious deputy (with no
legal justification) based on our vehicle and appearance. He started searching
our vehicle.

The Deputy opened the first sack and saw
a dozen pissed off rattlesnakes. Didn’t even tie the sack back up, just went
back to his cruiser and drove off.

My friend had a contract with Colorado
State University to collect two dozen rattlesnakes and asked me to help. He had
fabricated some snares on four foot poles
and had two stout gunny sacks to contain the snakes.

We went to the Pawnee Buttes area near
the Wyoming border and started hunting the snakes. It took several hours and,
after catching enough, we headed to Fort Collins. Just past Briggsdale we were
pulled over.

A recent reading of ways people have
pranked police brought out this memory.

The Deputy probably though he had struck
the mother lode on a hot, and boring, afternoon. Two bearded “hippies” in a VW
bus must be hauling, or at least possessing, drugs. Niceties like probable
cause? Hah! Hippies didn’t have rights.

We had beards, and we were in a VW
Transporter. Not hippies, but anti social, anti government, assholes who
enjoyed kicking the shit out of shitkickers. Lucky for Mr. Deputy he didn’t
push the issue.

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About Me

Semi retired road warrior, car salesman, occasional repo man. Father of three fine sons. Once a Blue Dog Democrat. Once a soldier; once a pilot. Rolling along life's highway proving there is no fool like an old fool.